Last night, I made the most delicious meal I’ve made in quite awhile. I’ve been in a cooking rut, but the time was right to have some fun in the kitchen.
For a long time, I’ve been craving risotto. For a long time, I’ve feared the risotto process. The whole thing seemed a bit complex – stir, add liquid, stir, add more liquid, stir. OK. Typing it out makes it seem super simple. I just didn’t imagine it that way. Anyway, I found this simple recipe and got to work.
I stirred, added, stirred, added, and stirred some more. Look what I got!
That’s some risotto! Roasted Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Parmesan Risotto to be exact. It was heavenly. Please check out the recipe and give it a try. The ingredients are no-fuss:
- 12 oz. arborio rice
- 32 oz. chicken stock
- 1 small butternut squash
- 2 c. cooked, cubed chicken breast
- 1 onion
- garlic
- olive oil
- freshly grated parmesan cheese
The results are amazing! Hands down, the creamiest, no-cream meal I’ve ever eaten. The sweetness of the squash added great flavor to the dish, but there are so many other fabulous options. My dad wants to try a cheesy risotto with broccoli. Good idea, Dad! I’d like to go with some spinach and tomatoes. Bring on the risotto!
Note: It wasn’t a dish I could easily walk away from. I stayed nearby to stir as the rice cooked. It was great for a lazy Sunday meal, but I wouldn’t plan this for a busy weeknight.
The kitchen was barely cool when I fired things up again at breakfast. I ran an easy four miler at the crack of dawn and I was more than ready for something tasty.
These Pumpkin Chia Pancakes were so tasty last week, they deserved an encore.
- 1/3 c. quick oats
- 1/4 c. pumpkin
- 1/3 c. egg whites
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- cinnamon
- 1/2 T. chia seeds
I omitted the mashed banana in favor of a smear of peanut butter and the sweetness of local honey. I ran out of maple syrup quite awhile ago and haven’t replaced it. I’m enjoying some interesting, new toppings.
The pancakes seemed to set the tone for the day. It was pretty sweet!
Hope your week is off to a great start!
Have you ever made risotto? Share your favorite risotto variation. My family would be happy to test it out. Right, Dad?
